Knowledge of neonatal danger signs and associated factors among mothers attending pediatric immunization clinics in Gidan District Health Centers, North Wollo, Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: The majority of neonatal deaths in developing countries occurred at home due to late recognition of the signs of serious illness by parents or caregivers. In Ethiopia, besides the attempts made to scale-up the maternal and child health services, maternal knowledge of neonatal danger signs is low. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the knowledge of neonatal danger signs and associated factors among mothers attending pediatric immunization clinics in Gidan district health centers, North Wollo, Ethiopia. METHOD: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted from September 1-30, 2020, among 399 mothers attending pediatric immunization clinics in Gidan district health centers. The data were collected using a pretested, structured, and interviewer-administered questionnaire. Epidata version 4.4.2.0 was used for data entry, and Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 22 was used for analysis. Descriptive statistics, bivariate and multivariate logistic regression were computed. Finally, an adjusted odds ratio along with 95% CI was calculated, and variables that had a P-value <0.05 were declared statistically significant. RESULT: The level of good maternal knowledge of neonatal danger signs in the study area was 48.1% (95% CI, 43.6%-52.9%). Maternal education level (AOR: 3.58, 95% CI, 1.22-10.55), parity (AOR: 2.10, 95% CI 1.18-3.71), having postnatal care follow-up (AOR: 2.05, 95% CI, 1.21-3.49), receiving health education about neonatal danger signs (AOR: 4.87, 95% CI, 2.73-8.68), and previous experience of neonatal danger signs (AOR: 2.35, 95% CI, 1.33-4.15) were significantly associated variables with the maternal knowledge of neonatal danger signs. CONCLUSION: This study revealed that maternal knowledge of neonatal danger signs was low. Maternal educational level, parity, postnatal care follow-up, health education about neonatal danger signs, and previous experience of neonatal danger signs were significantly associated variables. Therefore, maternal knowledge of neonatal danger signs needs to be enhanced through improving postnatal care services utilization and providing adequate health education about newborn health problems.

Suicidal ideation and attempt among people living with HIV/AIDS in selected public hospitals: Central Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. HIV/AIDS continues to be associated with an under-recognized risk for suicidal behavior. Suicidal behavior among people living with HIV/AIDS is not only a predictor of future attempted suicide and completed suicide, but it is also associated with poor quality of life and poor adherence with antiretroviral therapy. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of suicidal ideation and attempt and associated factors among people living with HIV/AIDS in selected public hospitals of Amhara region, central Ethiopia. METHODS: Institutional based cross-sectional study design was employed. The study was conducted in four public hospitals in North Shewa Zone from May to December 2017. Study population comprised all HIV-infected individuals from Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) clinic. A total of 348 study subjects were recruited using systematic random sampling and 326 completed the interview. Suicidality module from Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) was modified to assess suicidal behavior. Crude and adjusted OR was analyzed using logistic regression and the level of significance of association was determined at P value < 0.05. RESULT: A total of 326 (93.7%) study subjects were interviewed. The magnitude of suicidal ideation and attempt was found to be 16% and 7.1%, respectively. Low monthly income, living alone, suicidal thought before knowing seropositive status, family history of suicide, experiencing mild and moderate-to-severe depression and anxiety symptoms, being gossiped sometimes in the last 12 months of the study period due to HIV status and ever use of khat (a psychoactive substance) was statistically significant associated factor with suicidal ideation. And low monthly income, experiencing mild and moderate-to-severe depression and anxiety symptoms, being gossiped sometimes and often in the previous 12 months of the study period due to HIV status and using alcohol currently were significantly associated factors with suicidal attempt. CONCLUSION: Suicidal ideation and attempt among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in this study were higher than prevalence in the general population. This shows suicidal ideation and attempt is a mental health concern of PLWHA and it needs great attention in Ethiopia.

Assessment of Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding Emergency-Contraception Methods among Female Dangila Hidase High School Students, Northwest Ethiopia, 2019.

BACKGROUND: Emergency contraception is used after intercourse and before potential implantation, offering women a last chance to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sexual intercourse. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding emergency contraception among female students at Dangila Hidase high school in northwest Ethiopia. METHODS: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among female students at Dangila Hidase high school from from May 1 to 30, 2019. Systematic random sampling was used to select study participants. There were 1,219 students in Dangila Hidase high school. Of these, 625 of them were female students. There were 346 female students in grade 9 and 279 students from grade 10. Samples were allocated proportionally to each grade. A pretested self-administered structured questionnaire was used. Data were entered into Epi Info 3.5 and exported to SPSS 24 for analysis. RESULTS: A total of 262 female students aged 16-19 years were approached, and the response rate was 100%. Among respondents who had heard about emergency contraceptive, pills were the most commonly known method 98, 51.4%) followed by intrauterine contraceptive devices 42, 22.1%). A total of 75 (58.6%) participants had knowledge of the recommended number of pills to be taken. Of the 190 (72.5%) respondents who knew about emergency contraception, 147, 77.4%) had favorable attitudes toward its use. Of those who had had sexual intercourse 70, 26.7%), only 20 (28.6%) had used emergency contraception. CONCLUSION: Even though there is information available about emergency contraception, there is a gap with regard to the correct time of use. The positive attitudes of the respondents could be an indication of a fertile environment for possible interventions and reduction in maternal morbidity and mortality resulting from unwanted pregnancies and related complications.

Magnitude and Determinants of Postnatal Care Service Utilization Among Women Who Gave Birth in the Last 12 Months in Northern Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

INTRODUCTION: The postnatal period is the first 6 weeks (42 days) following delivery of a baby. The first hours, days and weeks after childbirth are the most critical times for both the mother and newborn infants. Most maternal and neonatal deaths occur during the first 24 hours after childbirth. PURPOSE: This study aimed to assess the magnitude and its determinants of postnatal care service utilization among women who gave birth in the last 12 months from May 1 to 21, 2019, in the Northern part of Ethiopia. METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 413 women who had given birth in the previous 12 months. A systematic random sampling technique was used to select the study participants. Data were collected by using a semi-structured questionnaire adopted from UNICEF and similar studies Data were entered, cleaned and coded into EPI info version 3.5 and exported to SPSS version 20 for analysis. Logistic regression was applied to identify associations between explanatory variable and the outcome variable. Statistical significance was declared at p<0.05 and 95% CI. RESULTS: In this study, the magnitude of postnatal care service utilization was 37%. A live birth outcome AOR (95% CI) =5.7 (1.53,21.216), maternal educational AOR (95% CI)=3.3 (1.90,5.60) household income >1,500 ETB per month AOR (95% CI)=2.9 (1.20,6.70), a planned and supported pregnancy AOR (95% CI)=3.9 (1.71,9.01) and last pregnancy of facility delivered AOR= (95% CI)=3.1 (1.25,7.70) are positively associated with utilization of postnatal care services. CONCLUSION: The major determinant factors that affect utilization of PNC identified in this study include monthly income of household, last pregnancy birth outcome, educational status of the mother, wantedness of the pregnancy and place of delivery were significantly associated with postnatal care service utilization. To improve PNC service utilization and to minimize maternal and neonatal mortality, mothers should be made aware about postnatal care services.